Asian Games 2018: Batirov blow for wrestler Sushil Kumar in India's first upset

Sushil Kumar (right) competes against Bahrain's Adam Batirov in the freestyle wrestling (74kg) qualification round yesterday. Pic/PTI

Superstar grappler Sushil Kumar, 35, became India's first major upset of the Asian Games here when the country's only two-time individual Olympic medal-winner went down 0-2 in the first round of the 74kg category wrestling bout to Bahrain's Adam Batirov, 33, yesterday.

However, the loss notwithstanding, it's the manner in which it came about that stunned the near-packed Jakarta Convention Centre Assembly Hall here where many of whom were rooting for the Indian. Sushil began with a two-point lead, but was soon penalised a point for rapping his opponent on the head.

The penalty seemed to have rattled him and with his lead cut to just one point, the Sonepat man now began looking for more points even as Batirov was happy to keep him at bay. Sushil then lunged for the Bahrain man's leg but missed and in the bargain, got into a poor position and lost a couple of points.

Shockingly, moments later, the India attempted a lunge again, and again missed getting a grip on Batirov's leg and got into a tangle, losing two more points. At 2-5 down, it was always going to be an uphill task for Sushil now, and though he managed to bag one more point, the final score, 3-5, meant that the elusive Asiad gold medal remained just that - elusive - in the end. Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was disappointed with Sushil's performance and minced no words in his criticism of the veteran grappler.

"It's a matter of age. Sushil is 35 and at that age, a wrestler can get tired quickly. That's what happened to him today. "It was a good bout overall and Sushil did try to fight back but the Bahrain wrestler is also experienced and didn't give away an inch. But that doesn't take away the act that Sushil was tired," Brij Bhushan, who is also India's Chef de Mission here, told mid-day moments after the defeat.

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